April 27, 2018 - In March 2013, Jody Blatchley, a New Zealand Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle coach, was training with his Olympic team at Keystone Resort in Colorado when he fractured his left knee and right heel. He was rushed to St. Anthony Summit Medical Center, a Level-III trauma center in Frisco, Colorado, and received emergency surgery on his broken left tibia. But negligent aftercare turned his treatment into a nightmare.

After his surgery, Mr. Blatchley developed compartment syndrome in his leg - a dangerous pressure buildup caused by internal bleeding and swelling, depriving the area of vital oxygen and nutrients - which went undiagnosed for three days. By that time, Mr. Blatchley was very ill, and multiple surgeries were required to attempt to save his injured leg.

Mr. Blatchley would end up leaving the hospital for good suffering from foot drop, curled toes, and a complex regional pain syndrome. Today, this former athlete is confined to a wheelchair.

The attorneys at Leventhal & Puga, P.C., took Mr. Blatchley’s claim of medical malpractice to Colorado federal court, and fought hard on his behalf. On Tuesday, April 24, 2018, the jury returned a $6.5 million verdict against St. Anthony Summit Medical Center.

Attorney Jim Puga said of the verdict, "This money will pay for the care Mr. Blatchley will need for the rest of his life."

Family of Woman Killed in Ski Lift Accident Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit

December 15, 2017 – On December 29, 2016, Kelly Huber of San Antonio and her two young daughters were ejected from the Quick Draw Express lift at Granby Ranch in Colorado. They landed 25 feet below in the hard-packed snow. Kelly was killed almost instantly, and her daughters were rushed to the hospital with debilitating injuries. Before this accident, multiple people had complained about the chairlift swinging and bouncing. A 151-page report released by the Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board afterward determined that the lift’s recently modified motor, as well as “rapid speed changes” made by an operator, caused the fatal fall. “They made a conscious decision that their revenue was more important that the safety of families and people getting onto that lift,” said Jim Leventhal, attorney for the Huber family. “You can’t ignore problems in front of you and hope they go away.”See interview from Denver7Read more from Denver PostRead more from CBS DenverRead more from The Denver ChannelRead more from Sky-Hi NewsRead more from WestwordRead more from Claims JournalRead more from FOX31 Denver

November 9, 2017 – Two women have filed federal lawsuits in Denver U.S. District Court against Dr. Gary Weiss, a neurologist who they claim misdiagnosed them (and others) with multiple sclerosis. Weiss proceeded to treat the women for MS, causing full-body pain, flu-like effects, and psychological difficulties. These false diagnoses were only discovered when Weiss was forced to sell his Vail-based practice over a separate allegation of unprofessional conduct.Read more from Vail DailyRead more from ClickOrlando.comRead more from Canon City Daily Record

Kentucky Jury Awards $8.2 Million to Woman Who Suffered Brain Damage Due to Undiagnosed Aneurysm

April 6, 2017 – In September 2010, Melanie Robbins of Kentucky experienced "the worst headache of her life." When the headache persisted, Ms. Robbins went to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Edgewood, where the ER physician ordered a brain scan that was misread by the radiologist as normal. A mandatory follow-up test was not performed. Ms. Robbins was discharged and sent home. Twelve days later, she suffered a massive brain bleed from cerebral aneurysm that damaged her brain, resulting in her being able to only speak and use one arm. This 35-year-old woman had to live in a nursing home for seven years while her medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital and misdiagnosing doctors was fought in court. St. Elizabeth Hospital settled for confidential amount. In April 2017, a Kenton County jury determined that both the emergency room doctor and the radiologist were negligent and awarded her a verdict of $8.3 million dollars. This money will be used to help Ms. Robbins establish her own residence, pay for her medical care to regain some autonomy, and provide for her now-12-year-old son. Jim Leventhal was lead counsel for the plaintiff.Read more from Cincinnati.comRead more from Radiology Business

Medical Negligence Victim Awarded $15 Million: ‘I Died That Day’

April 6, 2017 – A Douglas County jury has found an ambulatory surgical center negligent and awarded its patient millions of dollars in damages after she was paralyzed following a medical procedure.Read more from CBS Denver

Colo. paralyzed woman wins $14.9 million malpractice verdict

April 6, 2017 – Robbin Smith was given an epidural steroid injection with a drug that her attorneys said was clearly labeled not for use for epidurals.Read more from Denver Business Journal

April 6, 2017 – A Douglas County jury has awarded Castle Rock couple Robbin and Ed Smith a $14.9 million verdict against The Surgery Center at Lone Tree – the second largest medical negligence verdict in Colorado history.Read more - PDF Download

March 17, 2017 – It was 1980, and Leventhal, then 32, was taking his first medical malpractice case at his new firm to trial. The facts were in his favor: His client had been prescribed an unnecessary hysterectomy. The problem, his opponent suggested, was that Leventhal was out of his league. He was a clothing salesmen turned public defender. He had no formal medical training and was facing off against two seasoned attorneys: one was a doctor-turned-lawyer; the other had never lost a case. Face it, the doctor-turned-lawyer told him at the start of the trial: He had no chance.Read more from Super Lawyers – Colorado

Surgical tech’s case exposes multiple failings in patient protections

February 28, 2016 – Rocky Allen’s long road of addiction passed through five hospitals, four states and a deployment in Afghanistan.Read more from the Denver PostRead more from the International Health Facility Diversion Association

More Swedish Hospital Patients Test Positive For Bloodborne Pathogens

February 23, 2016 – There are more reports of tests coming back positive from Swedish Medical Center patients. The hospital suggested nearly 3,000 former patients get tested for HIV and hepatitis B and C after former surgical technician Rocky Allen was fired.Read more from CBS Denver

Surgical tech accused of switching needles ID’d

February 4, 2016 – The now-former surgical technician who may be responsible for roughly 2,900 people needing to be tested for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C has been identified.Read more from 9News

Swedish: Technician Caught Swiping Needle In The Operating Room

February 4, 2016 – A doctor at Swedish Medical Center told CBS4 that a surgical technician was caught swiping a needle filled with fentanyl in the operating room at the beginning of a surgical procedure.Read more from CBS Denver

Nearly 3,000 Swedish Medical Center Patients Urged To Get Blood Tests

February 3, 2016 – The Colorado Department of Public Health is investigating possible drug diversion by a former employee at Swedish Medical Center and some patients are being asked to be tested for possible exposure to diseases.Read more from CBS Denver

Swedish Hospital patients being tested for Hep B, Hep C, HIV

February 3, 2016 – Roughly 2,900 people who had surgery at Swedish Medical Center the past five months are being notified that they need to be tested for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C as part of an investigation into a now-former surgical technician.

January 21, 2016 – In medical malpractice cases, lawyers on either side can agree on one thing: Something terrible happened. But the stories about what happened diverge from there, and oftentimes so do the methods of telling them.Read more from Law Week Colorado

Denver, April 3, 2015 – Leventhal & Puga, P.C., attorneys Jim Puga and Sean Leventhal obtained a $17.8 million verdict against Children’s Hospital Colorado on March 27, from a jury in Arapahoe County – the largest medical malpractice verdict in Colorado history.Read more - PDF Download

April 3, 2015 – Children’s Hospital Colorado has been hit with a $17.8 million verdict following a civil lawsuit filed in Arapahoe County District Court, according to an order filed March 31.Read more from the Denver Business Journal

Jury awards large malpractice verdict against Children’s Hospital

April 3, 2015 – An Arapahoe County jury has awarded a $17.8 million malpractice verdict against Children’s Hospital Colorado after finding the hospital’s staff responsible for giving the wrong dose of medication to a 4-day-old girl.Read more from the Denver Post

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